? Why no inside passage on Alaska cruises?

[DMMarla07860]

I have to say, I find that really sad. But to each his own. I have no idea why you're flying all the way to Alaska if you don't care about seeing Alaska...

Sayhello

I'm not actually flying to Alaska, I'm flying to LA and doing the LA to Alaska cruise and doing the first Alaska, B2B. Can't pass doing that. We might not even be doing the Alaska one, not sure yet. deff doing the one that stops in San Fran because that is the best place, love love love it

 

[sayhello]

I want the "best" Alaska cruise. But we have been booked with DCL for sometime now (Our trip is 99%, will be 100% next month, paid off) and my kids are super pumped about sailing w/Disney. I'm concerned about missing the inside passage, but trying to look at the positive because I don't feel we can change lines at this point. My kids would be too disappointed PLUS it's really important for my kids that they stay together in the clubs and based on the age groupings for other lines that would not be possible. So I really just hope we are able to see as much as possible with Disney! We plan to take as many excursions as possible including helicopter glacier tours, so hopefully we will get our fill of scenery that way. I'm definately bummed about the inside passage (or lack of) but I know we will still have a wonderful trip and hopefully we will still get to SEE Alaska!

I'm sure you will definitely still have a wonderful trip, and you will definitely see a lot of one portion of Alaska. Any trip to Alaska is a good thing! And DCL is a good cruiseline. It's not like this is a crappy itinerary, it's just not as good as it could be, or as good as other cruiselines' itineraries are. (And, actually, even Princess has less than great itineraries. They have round trips out of Seattle that don't do the inside passage, and don't do Glacier Bay. But they also have the *choice* of doing better itineraries if that's what you want.)

It's just that some people are saying "This will be my only trip to Alaska, and I want to have the best trip I can". In which case, in all honesty, I can't recommend DCL's itinerary. But that doesn't mean you won't enjoy yourself, or see some great stuff. Especially if you plan to take excursions that get you out of the ports, and into the glaciers, etc.

I'm not actually flying to Alaska, I'm flying to LA and doing the LA to Alaska cruise and doing the first Alaska, B2B. Can't pass doing that. We might not even be doing the Alaska one, not sure yet. deff doing the one that stops in San Fran because that is the best place, love love love it

Ah, OK, that makes way more sense. And I totally agree. A trip to San Francisco is always a good thing!

Sayhello

 

[justmestace]

This is why I want to find out as much as I can about the right itinerary. Being from the UK am now very confused.
Brenda

Does Disney have a map of their itinerary? Now that I've asked, I thought it was posted here, I should look back at it.

Anyway.....the description of what you'll see in Tracy Arm is also what you'd be seeing if you were to cruise up the coast on the Inside Passage.

Otherwise, you'll basically just see ocean.


I don't want to sway anyone one way or the other. I'm just trying to help clarify.
Obviously most everyone booked their Alaska cruise with DCL because they feel safe with Disney and love the ship. I can't argue with that, so I won't.
It's just realistic to say that this isn't the best itinerary, nor is it the least expensive way to go.

 

[Inkmahm]

We were so excited when we learned that DCL was going to Alaska. However, after researching it, we decided to book Princess for the reasons above. We really wanted the inside passage and the opportunity to do land excursions. I think we would regret it if we didn't spend a couple of days at Denali - since I think we'll only go to Alaska once.

We are huge DCL fans and we really didn't want to go on another cruise line, but for us, the itenerary didn't meet our needs.

Good luck with your decision. I'm anxious to read trip reports after the first Alaska cruises.

You'll love Princess and will especially love Denali. Don't forget to do the bus ride into the park. It takes 8 to 10 hours but it is the best way to see the park and the wildlife there. Do NOT take the natural history tour as that barely gets you into the park at all and you will see very little wildlife.

 

[clten]

I just wanted to add that the cruiseline you sail with may not make as big a difference as the when you sail (and conditions vary from day to day so no telling when the very best time to go is). We did the itinerary that some here are describing as "preferred" with Princess. We did the inside passage from Vancouver. I have to tell you that may be the most boring day I've ever had on my 30+ cruises (19 of them on Disney). It was late May and there really wasn't anything to see -- no wildlife on land or sea. It was a gray and drizzily day. The naturalist on board was really stretching on things to talk about -- at times she described what we would be seeing when we got further north to our port call cities (same ones we're going on with Disney). Our day in Glacier Bay was nice but we didn't see one glacier calving and trust me there was someone from our group watching the whole time we were out there and we shifted as the ship rotated.

Our best days for seeing the Alaska scenery (apart from our land tour to Fairbanks-Denali-Anchorage) were the port days. In Juneau we did the whale watching and Mendenhall glacier. Looking forward to doing that again. Loved Ketichan and really looking forward to that port again.

Is Disney's itinerary the best for a once-in-a-lifetime, never-going-to-get-back to Alaska trip? NO! But I think is is just as good as any cruise only trip to Alaska. I think the worst part of DCL's itinerary is that there is no opportunity to add a land tour of Alaska before or after. I don't think that one day going out to sea rather than the inside passage is a make it or break it day. And not every day in Glacier Bay is magical ; so you may have a great day in Tracy Arm where that same day in Glacier Bay may not have been great.

 

[inspcramer]

My wife and I went to a Holland America presentation given by the local AAA office. Their cruise included about half on the ship and half on buses (staying at hotels). Very inexpensive compared to Disney. But we are now booked on the 5/31 cruise for our first cruise to Alaska. We may do the Holland America or some other cruise again in the future, but for our first trip we would rather go on the Disney Cruise Line. We have really enjoyed our trips with them and who knows if they will go back to Alaska in 2012 or not. I'm sure that we will get more than our fill of scenery over the whole trip.

 

[Inkmahm]

We were so excited when we learned that DCL was going to Alaska. However, after researching it, we decided to book Princess for the reasons above. We really wanted the inside passage and the opportunity to do land excursions. I think we would regret it if we didn't spend a couple of days at Denali - since I think we'll only go to Alaska once.

We are huge DCL fans and we really didn't want to go on another cruise line, but for us, the itenerary didn't meet our needs.

Good luck with your decision. I'm anxious to read trip reports after the first Alaska cruises.

I believe you've made the correct decision. We LOVE doing Alaska with Princess. Our plan is to do it every 5 years (next trip is 2013). We added Disney's version of Alaska in 2011 as a fill in trip because we love DCL and love Alaska. But we are fully aware that we won't be able to do many of the things we usually do with Princess. Still, we know we'll enjoy the trip. It just wouldn't be the trip we'd take if we thought it would be our one and only trip to Alaska.

 

[Momof3greatkids]

The inside passage is much better for scenery than the open ocean. However, it is not just the views I am concerned about, it is how smooth the water is. I have heard some reports that the inside passage can be rough from time to time, but for the most part is it considered smooth as glass. The Pacific, not so much. Obviously, feeling sea sick can really interfere with how much you are enjoying your DCL experience or any other cruiseline. So, for me that is two strikes against Disney, the third being price. Everyone should, of course, go on the cruise your think is best for your family. I just think you need to be aware that for the price, Disney is not doing the best job! When I read announcements of DCL coming to Alaska, the inside passage was listed as the route they would be taking. So, it has come as a big disappointment to find out it just isn't so.

Also, please please be aware that while Tracey Arm is by all accounts beautiful, the glaciers are located at the end of the route, and very frequently the ships don't make it all the way to the end before they turn around. So, while Disney is correct that there are glaciers in Tracey Arm, seeing them is by no means a guarantee. Glacier Bay is by far superior for Glacier spotting.

Having said all that my daughter is still begging to stay with Disney for Alaska, and I am sure we would have a good time, just not the best it good be!

 

[DW2DH&DS]

We are sailing with princess in 2012 on the voyage of the glaciers itinerary...have a friend who works for princess. Anyway, she swears by Tracy Arm Fjord...says it is her favorite in Alaska. Thought i would throw that out there. We chose princess because Disney was not the right fit for us for Alaska.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Ah, OK, that makes way more sense. And I totally agree. A trip to San Francisco is always a good thing!

Sayhello

yup a San Francisco trip is a great thing to me loved it when I went in 2008 and have wanted to go back. The first Alaska cruise will just be a extra cruise. Go to a couple new places where I actually want to go, so would be a great trip.

 

[justmestace]

yup a San Francisco trip is a great thing to me loved it when I went in 2008 and have wanted to go back. The first Alaska cruise will just be a extra cruise. Go to a couple new places where I actually want to go, so would be a great trip.

I don't know what it is about San Francisco, but I love it too. I've been there many, many times and am going back as soon as I'm off my Wonder trip in just over a couple of weeks. I just wish San Fran would clean up their act a little. Having just stayed on Seattle's waterfront, San Fran could learn something about cleanliness and making their waterfront more beautiful. But I still love it and am really looking forward to going back.

 

[Skallywag]

Hi all,

Lve the information and am evern more confused now as others understood believed we were to sail the insite passage from Vancouver.

Chose this itinerary because of the stops at San Fransisco and Victoria and now wonder if we should just do that part and try and pick up another cruise from there that would show us more of the Alaska we want to see.

Do not want to be negative but this is probably the only time we shall do this trip and do not want to be disappointed.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I don't know what it is about San Francisco, but I love it too. I've been there many, many times and am going back as soon as I'm off my Wonder trip in just over a couple of weeks. I just wish San Fran would clean up their act a little. Having just stayed on Seattle's waterfront, San Fran could learn something about cleanliness and making their waterfront more beautiful. But I still love it and am really looking forward to going back.

I know what I like about San Francisco, I loved the food in Japan town. I also loved other stuff as well, but the thing I remember most about the trip is food in Japan town and a Mexican food place just a little outside the city

 

[UMTerp]

Hi all,

Lve the information and am evern more confused now as others understood believed we were to sail the insite passage from Vancouver.

Chose this itinerary because of the stops at San Fransisco and Victoria and now wonder if we should just do that part and try and pick up another cruise from there that would show us more of the Alaska we want to see.

Do not want to be negative but this is probably the only time we shall do this trip and do not want to be disappointed.

If this is the only time you will be in Alaska, you may be better served by taking a one-way cruise with a land tour of some type (we rented a car and did it on our own) to also visit the interior of Alaska. That way you will get the Inside Passage, Port stops, Glacier Bay, Denali, etc. We went with Princess after cruising with DCL 5 times. Princess was fine.
HTH!

UMTerp

 

[smeecanada]

We had a BEAUTIFUL day/night in Victoria! We walked all the way to the old fort (Bastion?) and all along the wharf, found Victoria's Fisherman's Wharf, with the houses floating on the water, and then walked back to the ship. It was gorgeous. I could live there. If I could afford it.

Great. They've done a lot of improvements to the Fisherman's Wharf in the last few years. Now, they are going to do more improvements around the cruise ship terminal. Glad you loved the place we call home. People say it's really pricey to live here, but we don't know any different having lived here from the beginning. The Inner Harbour is a beautiful spot and wonderful to walk around on the weekends. Yes, you must have walked to Bastion Square - the site of the Hudson's Bay Fort. If you come again, walk about 10 minutes further down Government and you come to the oldest Chinatown in Canada. It's really neat to see.

 

[NancyIL]

I have been on two one-way Alaska cruises from Vancouver (1 each on Princess and HAL), followed by independent land trips with a rental car. On the first cruise, I tried to see as much scenery as possible on the first sea day as we sailed between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It was too foggy to see much scenery on the second cruise. So while it is more scenic to sail the "inside passage" route, it isn't a deal breaker for me.

In May 2009 I went on a Princess roundtrip out of Seattle that had a similar itinerary to DCL's, except it also went to Victoria. (Cruise ships sailing roundtrip from Seattle have to make a foreign port stop.) While Tracy Arm was beautiful, we didn't get to the end of the fjord to see the glaciers. I had been to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier on my previous cruises, but I sailed with a friend who had never been to Alaska. Knowing there was a good chance we wouldn't see any glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm, we spent a few hours at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

If your reason for cruising to Alaska is to see as much of Alaska as possible - choose a different itinerary. If your main reason for booking this cruise is to sail on a DISNEY ship that just happens to go to Alaska - then you'll probably be happy with this cruise. After all - you can't miss what you've never experienced!

 

[over50visits]

They aren't doing the inside passage (fully) or Glacier Bay. As wonderful as the Disney cruise experience is, this is a real dealbreaker for us. The absolute, positive, unquestioned highlight of our last Alaska cruise was watching a glacier calve for almost an hour, followed by the trip up/back to it, followed by the long inside passage cruising. We'll save our higher cruise fare payments for other DCL cruises, but not this one (sad to say).

 

[jiminyC_fan]

It was a deal breaker for us. We are booked for a cruisetour on HAL next month. Beginning in Fairbanks with the train to Denali, staying in a Chalet and a hotel for 2 days. Catching the ship in Seward and taking the inside passage. We debark in Vancouver. It is a 12 day tour. I like it because we get to see both land and sea. I like it for the price. (you wouldn't believe it if I told you). I do know that we are compromising for the ship quality. We are not going to Alaska for the ship but for "seeing" Alaska. As long as I can eat and sleep then that's all I need. We have been on 8 DCL cruises with 9 and 10 on the B2B Maiden Voyage of the Dream so it will be hard not to be on DCL.

 

[NancyIL]

It was a deal breaker for us. We are booked for a cruisetour on HAL next month. Beginning in Fairbanks with the train to Denali, staying in a Chalet and a hotel for 2 days. Catching the ship in Seward and taking the inside passage. We debark in Vancouver. It is a 12 day tour. I like it because we get to see both land and sea. I like it for the price. (you wouldn't believe it if I told you). I do know that we are compromising for the ship quality. We are not going to Alaska for the ship but for "seeing" Alaska. As long as I can eat and sleep then that's all I need. We have been on 8 DCL cruises with 9 and 10 on the B2B Maiden Voyage of the Dream so it will be hard not to be on DCL.

I would disagree that you are compromising ship quality by sailing on HAL, and I don't think you will suffer too greatly!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I would disagree that you are compromising ship quality by sailing on HAL, and I don't think you will suffer too greatly!

Thanks!